by USA TODAY

by USA TODAY

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. (AP) - A soldier who served with Staff Sgt. Robert Bales says he thought Bales seemed remorseful after he was taken into custody following a massacre at two Afghan villages.

Defense witness 1st Sgt. Vernon Bigham testified Wednesday as the third day of testimony began at a preliminary hearing that will help determine whether Bales faces a court martial on 16 counts of premeditated murder.

Bales is accused of leaving his post in Kandahar province last March to commit a pre-dawn massacre at two villages.

Other soldiers have testified that Bales made a mid-massacre confession, asked for help bleaching his blood-stained clothing and deliberately destroyed his laptop computer.

Bigham says he always thought Bales was a highly capable soldier.

Video testimony from Afghan witnesses, including villagers, is set to begin Friday night.

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